Main Entry: cu·ri·ous
Pronunciation: kyr--s
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English curious "made carefully, skillful, eager to learn," from early French curios (same meaning), from Latin curiosus "careful, inquisitive," from cura "care, healing" --related to ACCURATE, CURE1: eager to learn <a cat curious about its new surroundings>2: INQUISITIVE 23: attracting attention by being strange or unusual : ODD <a curious old coin> <that's curious--they were here yesterday> - cu·ri·ous·lyadverb- cu·ri·ous·nessnounsynonymsCURIOUS, INQUISITIVE, PRYING mean interested in what is not one's own business. CURIOUS in general suggests an active desire to learn or to know <children are curious about everything>. INQUISITIVE suggests annoying and regular curiosity along with steady quizzing <dreaded the visits of their inquisitive relatives>. PRYING suggests truly bothersome meddling <prying neighbors who refuse to mind their own business>.